Kirk Gustafson received his formal training from the University of Colorado and the University of Washington, where he earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts in opera and orchestral conducting. As a guest conductor, Dr. Gustafson has appeared with the Rogue Valley, South Dakota, Southwest Illinois, Littleton, and Salt Lake Symphonies, the Boulder and Arapahoe Philharmonics, the Arvada Chamber Orchestra, and the Colorado Festival Orchestras, where he was assistant conductor for eight seasons. He currently is Music Director and Conductor of the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, an accomplished cellist and chamber musician, and Lecturer at Mesa State.
Carol Ann Niles, soprano, received her Bachelor of Music Education from St. Mary College (Kansas), and her graduate studies were at Miami University (Ohio). She was a member and soloist with Denver's Classic Chorale and performed often with the Denver Symphony Orchestra. While living in New Zealand, she recorded for the N.Z. Broadcasting Corporation. Ms. Niles has been on the voice faculty at Mesa State College since 1979 and performs frequently with the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra as well as the Western Colorado Chorale. She has sung numerous lead roles in both oratorio and opera. Ms. Niles maintains a large private voice studio and teaches Class Voice and directs the Women´s Chorus at Mesa State College. She was a member of the voice faculty at the Corsi Internazionali di Musica summer music program at the University of Urbino, Italy for four years. Ms. Niles is currently serving as the President of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) for the Colorado and Wyoming region. NATS is the largest association of singing teachers in the world and provides support and educational opportunities to university, college and private voice teachers.
J. Cameron Law received his Bachelor´s of Music degree with university honors and academic distinction in cello performance from Colorado State University. He completed a Masters degree in cello performance at the University of Michigan, where he was awarded a music fellowship and teaching assistant. Mr. Law has performed as the Assistant Principal Cellist of the Fort Collins and Cheyenne Symphonies, and is currently Principal Cellist of the Grand Junction Symphony. He is very active as both a performer and clinician. He has performed for three seasons at the Western Slope Summer Music Festival in Crested Butte. In 1997, he was selected to conduct the Colorado All-State String Orchestra. In addition, he is on the string faculty at the CSU Summer Music Camp and serves as the Camp Director for the CASTA Middle School String Camp. In 1999, he was awarded the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Educator Award. He is also past president of the Colorado chapter of the American String Teacher´s Association. Mr. Law is currently the Director of Orchestras at Grand Junction High School and is on the adjunct faculty at Mesa State College.
Troy Raper received his Bachelor´s degree in music education from the University of Northern Colorado. He has performed with the Greeley, Fort Collins, and Cheyenne Symphonies and with various jazz bands, recording studios, and as a concert soloist. He serves as chair-elect for the Colorado All-State Orchestra Governing Board and is a board member of the Colorado chapter of the American String Teachers Association. He is currently Director of Orchestras at Palisade High School and Mt. Garfield Middle School, maintains an active private studio and is on the adjunct faculty at Mesa State. Mr. Raper serves as district liaison and bass instructor for the Colorado ASTA summer string camp, and is Principal Bassist for the Grand Junction Symphony.
Diana Nelson, horn instructor, is principal horn with the Grand Junction Symphony. Ms. Nelson earned her degrees in music education and performance from the University of Northern Colorado. She has played with the National Repertory Orchestra, the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, the Crested Butte Chamber Music Festival, the Western Slope Music Festival in Crested Butte, and the Marsha Thomas Chamber Music Festival. She is currently a music specialist at Tope Elementary and a member of the Grand Junction Symphony Woodwind Quintet. Ms. Nelson is instructor of horn at Mesa State College, and teaches music education and music appreciation courses.
Philip Wyse was born and raised in Managua, Nicaragua. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Denison University and his Master of Music degree from Northwestern University. He has been a college music professor in Kentucky and in South Dakota. For over fifteen years he has been a member of the piano faculty of the International Music Camp in the Peace Gardens of North Dakota and Manitoba. Mr. Wyse is also a harpsichordist and has toured the Dakotas and Wyoming under the auspices of the South Dakota Arts Council. He recently performed with the Grand Junction Symphony Chamber Orchestra at the Avalon Theatre. Mr. Wyse teaches piano privately, accompanies voice students, and teaches Harpsichord at Mesa State College. He is organist at the First Presbyterian Church.
Jan Drazek, soprano, holds a Bachelor of Arts from Dallas Baptist University and a Master's in Voice Performance from Southern Methodist University. She undertook postgraduate trainng at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. She is a frequent soloist with the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, performing in Verdi's Requiem and many solo roles in oratorio. Ms. Drazek has performed extensively in musical theater in Dallas, New York, Aspen, and Grand Junction. She has taught at Dallas Baptist University and currently teaches private voice and voice diction at Mesa State.
Kristi Ballif, flute,earned her Master of Music degree in Flute Performance from Arizona State University and her Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from Brigham Young University. She has been teaching private students for over ten years. Her instructors have included Elizabeth Ruppe, Trygve Peterson, and Elizabeth Buck. She has also participated in masterclasses for Trevor Wye, Robert Dick, Tadeu Coelho, Linda Chesis, and Keith Underwood. Visit Kristi Ballif’s Personal Website.
Ken Heitt, bassoon instructor, received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education at the University of Northern Colorado, where he graduated with honors. He taught music in the Mesa County school district in Grand Junction, Colorado. Mr. Heitt has played with the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, the Marsha Thomas Chamber Music Festival, and has been the principal bassoonist with the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra since 1978. He maintains a private studio, is a member of the Grand Junction Symphony Woodwind Quintet, and is currently an adjunct instructor at Mesa State College.
Laine
Cross, piano, attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and San Diego State University (CA). She was instructor of piano at the University of Redlands (CA), where she also accompanied the University Singers. She has taught piano in Grand Junction for many years. Currently, she teaches private piano lessons and is a staff accompanist at Mesa State.
Richard Luke, baritone, holds a Bachelor´s of Music Education from Walla Walla College (WA) and has studied at Colorado University, Colorado State University, University of Northern Colorado, Southern Adventist College, and Central Florida University. He has studied with William Vennard and Burton Coffin. Mr. Luke has over 24 years experience in vocal and choral teaching in private schools in Colorado, California, and Florida. He currently sings in the Western Colorado Chorale and is on the voice faculty at Mesa State.
Tyme Mientka graduated from Northwestern University and the University of Southern California, and holds a Master's Degree in Cello Performance. He taught upper and lower strings and conducted the Chamber Orchestra for two years at Montana State University and taught cello and bass at Concordia College in St. Paul, Minnesota for 4 years. He and his wife lived in Germany for eight years, where they taught music and toured internationally. The Mientka Duo is the recipient of many honors and awards, including a special prize at the Concours International De Musique De Chambre in Paris. Recently, Mr. Mientka was on the faculty of the Corsi Internazionali di Musica in Italy. He and his wife founded and direct the Western Slope Chamber Music Series and the Colorado West School of Performing Arts.
Eric Nohe Eric Nohe has a Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar Performance from Southern Methodist University. He has trained students who have been offered scholarships at Northwestern University, Yale, Manhattan School of Music, University of Denver, and the University of Colorado in classical and jazz guitar performance. Mr. Nohe performs in concerts, clubs, and receptions, in both classical and jazz idioms and has performed for President Ford, Arnold Schwartzenegger, Henry Kissinger, and others.
